Some weather nerd-dom. I did not know what a "derecho" was until the storm a few weeks ago in Houston but Bentonville, Arkansas had another one. 110mph winds for about a two mile radius for 15-20 minutes:
Information from the National Weather Service about the storm damage from Decatur, Centerton, Bentonville, & Rogers....
“**NWS Tulsa Meteorologists Currently Surveying Storm Damage From The May 25-26 Long-Track Tornadic Supercell**
The National Weather Service Office in Tulsa OK is currently conducting storm surveys from Rogers County, Oklahoma, eastward through Carroll County, Arkansas.
Damage produced by this long-track supercell was extensive, including high-end straight-line wind damage from its rear flank downdraft, as well as tornado damage, some of which has already been confirmed in the strong category (EF2 and EF3).
These surveys began Sunday 5/26, and will continue for the duration of today, and likely for at least a couple more days.
A tornado developed northeast of Owasso in Rogers County, moved through Claremore, and then likely dissipated northwest of Pryor, in Mayes County. Much of this damage path was surveyed yesterday. EF2 damage was found in Claremore, and EF3 damage was found east of Claremore. The tornado continued to produce EF2 damage as it moved into Mayes County, with extensive tree damage. It destroyed a mobile home less than a mile from the county line where two fatalities and four injuries occurred. We expect to finalize this damage path today with further surveys.
Two tornadoes occurred in and near Salina, in Mayes County. We confirmed EF1 damage in both tornado tracks yesterday, and expect to finalize these tornado paths today with further surveys.
Two tornadoes occurred near Decatur, in Benton County, Arkansas. We surveyed some of the track of one of the tornadoes yesterday, and found EF3 damage northwest of town. This tornado likely began in eastern Delaware County, Oklahoma. We hope to finalize these paths today.
We surveyed some damage west of Centerton, in Benton County, Arkansas. Based on radar data and damage patterns, there were likely two tornadoes that occurred in that area, including one that produced EF2 damage.
Extensive straight-line wind damage occurred across Benton County, including this area, into Bentonville, and across portions of Rogers into the War Eagle area.
Tornadoes also occurred at times in those area, to the north of where the straight- line wind damage occurred.
Based on our survey yesterday, combined with review of radar data, we believe the fatality that occurred in a mobile home east of Rogers and near Beaver Lake was the result of straight-line wind damage from the rear flank downdraft. Estimated wind speeds in that area were 80 to 95 mph based on the extensive tree and home damage.
Final assessments and details for some of these tornadoes, including results from our damage surveys, will be issued late this evening when we return from today`s surveys, and will be updated over the coming days as more surveys occur.”
The radar signature on this storm was the strongest rear-flank-downdraft (RFD) I’ve ever seen.
So much so, you can tell in the video playback how I’m questioning the data display? It didn’t seem right to me that the radar was showing me winds from RFD at 110mph.
I think much of the damage in Bentonville & Rogers was from an extreme RFD wind event. It’s equivalent to an EF2 tornado over a broad, large area. The straight-line winds are worse than a tornado would have been.
There were no doubt circulations that developed on the line. Walnut & 8th is a good example of what I think was tornado damage.
Regardless… it’s safe to say winds over 100mph carved a path across Benton Co with the most extensive damage since the 2019 Tornado, 2009 Ice Storm or 2006 Tornado.